Sex differences in nonhuman primate behavioral development

Abstract

Sex differences in behavior and developmental trajectories in human children are of great interest to researchers in a variety of fields, and a persistent topic of discussion and debate is the relative contribution of biological vs. social influences to such differences. Given the potentially large effects of cultural and social influences on human child development, nonhuman primates are important model species for investigating the biological and evolutionary roots of sex differences in human development. This Mini-Review briefly summarizes the existing literature on sex-biased behavior toward infant nonhuman primates by mothers and other social partners, followed by a review of findings on sex differences (or lack thereof) in primate behavioral development from a variety of species in wild and naturalistic settings. These include differences in physical and social development, including play, grooming, and object manipulation patterns, as well as nursing and the development of foraging behavior. The Mini-Review concludes by providing potential avenues for future research. V C 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Development of object manipulation in wild chimpanzees

“…Other studies in chimpanzees have shown sex differences in developmental patterns (Lonsdorf, 2017). For example, at Kalinzu, Uganda, immature males showed higher rates of playful object manipulations than immature females (Koops, Furuichi, Hashimoto, & van Schaik, 2015).…”

“…One hypothesis is that this difference is the result of sexual selection acting differently on males and females. Indeed,Lonsdorf (2017) argued that "…females are expected to show more behaviours related to offspring care and males are expected to show more behaviours related to competition for mating opportunities". In Sonso, there is no tool or proto-tool use primarily related to offspring care that we are aware of but there are several tool use behaviours related to aggressive displays (i.e.…”

Hvad tror danskerne på? En kortlægning af tro, overtro og overbevisning

“…Allerede inden da, i alderen 3-8 måneder, er drengebørn mere interesserede i at kigge på en legetøjsbil end en dukke, mens det er omvendt for piger (Alexander, Wilcox, og Woods 2009). Studier af andre abearter viser også at visse kønsforskelle i adfaerd er biologisk snarere end kulturelt betinget (Lonsdorf 2017). Ligesom hos mennesket opholder drengeaber sig mere vaek fra moren, er mindre sociale og tumler og leger mere vildt end pigeaber, mens pigeaber leger mere foraeldre.…”

Estilos de cuidado materno em primatas: considerações a partir de uma espécie do Novo Mundo

“…In primates, infancy is defined as the period in which the infant is physically depends on the mother to survival. The most commonly used point of reference for determining the end of such a period is the age of nutritional and locomotor weaning (i.e., when the infant is no longer fed on the mother's milk and is no longer carried by the mother) (Lonsdorf, 2017;Pereira & Altmann, 1985). However, within each species' range of behavioral flexibility, the timing and strength of maternal rejection can be quite variable, suggesting that other processes participate in this dynamic (Verderane, 2005).…”